Decade of memories
With six consecutive UK number-one albums under their belts and an ability to sell out stadium shows in a flash, the Stereophonics are regarded as one of the biggest bands in the world. But they haven’t forgotten the days when no one had heard of them, writes Susan Welsh
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WHEN mighty Welsh rockers the Stereophonics step on to the stage of the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre tonight, they will fulfil a promise they made last year to return.
Fans lucky enough to get a ticket for last November’s blistering gig, hailed as one of the best in the city for years, left the building to the sound of lead singer Kelly Jones promising to come back in 2008.
The band, who currently are in the top 10 of the album chart with their new release, A Decade In the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics, are as good as their word and happy to prove, once more, the strong sense of loyalty they feel for the fans in the north of Scotland.
Bassist Richard Jones said: “Scotland was the first place we toured extensively outside of Wales when we first started.
“We found that Aberdeen and Inverness in particular had the sort of fan base where, if you show your allegiance to them, they will always come back and see you.
“It’s always a crazy night in Aberdeen and one we really enjoy, simply because, for us, memories of the early days come flooding back.
“We used to play small venues like the Vodka Bar in Aberdeen and the Railway Club in Inverness. The Inverness gig sticks in my mind because it was just mental, which makes us very fond of it.
“We would love to play Inverness again, but need to find a big enough venue – this tour we’re only playing arenas.”
The tour coincides with the release of the band’s greatest hits album, which means fans can expect to hear a mixture of old and new material at the gig tonight.
“Our audience is quite mixed now, with fans who have been with us from the start and who like hearing the old material, and fans who are just getting into us and know only the newer stuff,” said Richard.
“Over the last six months, we’ve been touring in different countries and have been dropping one or two of the old numbers into the set, just to see if we can still play them.
“It has been a really good laugh, and we’ve enjoyed hearing them again.”
So, I wondered, which track is his favourite?
“It always changes because of the way you play them and the memories attached to them, but certain ones like Local Boy in the Photograph and Bartender and the Thief always hold a special place for me because they were the first songs that people really took notice of: they are the cornerstone of the Stereophonics’ early career.”
The band also won more fans when their version of, Handbags and Gladrags was used as the theme song for cult comedy show The Office.
“That was what you call a happy coincidence,” said Richard.
“We had recorded Handbags for a Jools Holland compilation album, but the record company really liked it, so they stuck it on to the next album we had coming out.
“It was released as a single and, as it was used as the theme tune for The Office at the same time, it went massive.”
This tour also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the band getting a Brit award for their first studio album, Word Gets Around.
“I can’t believe 10 years have passed since then but, to be honest, I don’t really count how many tours, albums, singles or awards we have because, as a band, we tend to look forward to what’s coming ahead, rather than look back.
“One thing about this tour, though, is that we have found ourselves reminiscing about the first clubs and pubs we played in Scotland back then, and that has been really nice.
“Although we always get a great crowd up here, we never take anything for granted and always put in as much effort to every concert as is humanly possible.”
The band will continue touring until next spring, but they intend taking a two-week break off for the festive season.
“After this tour, we are going back to the studio to start recording our next album which will probably takes us all the way through the summer.
“But before then, we have Aberdeen to look forward to. I’m really looking forward to tonight and have just one piece of advice for fans: wear something warm; I’m sure it’s going to be cold.”
Tonight’s concert is sold out, but check the classified section of the Press and Journal for tickets from private sellers.
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